Leo looked down sadly as Derrick preached to a group of scared colonists that had gathered on Main Street. He was all but inviting another riot. Derrick’s best friend, Mortimer, loitered nearby. Worry, perpetually etched onto his face, made him look older than his thirty years.

The worst part was that Derrick wasn’t wrong. The machines had stopped. Maybe that was a sign. They’d had too many pressing problems to see if the same had happened elsewhere on Prysmos. No lights. No heat. No transportation. Even the ambassador from the North was reluctant to leave on foot.

“You’re just sitting here watching him?” Eduard’s voice rose from behind Leo.

“He has a right to free speech.” Frenetic applause and ear-piercing whistles filled the air from below.

Eduard’s voice grew hard. “He’s inciting a riot. I’ve warned you about him before. He’s dangerous. And he’s working toward something big. Mark my words.”

Leo sighed. “I know. Maybe he can succeed where I’ve failed.”

“You haven’t failed unless you’ve given up.”